HAI Africa welcomes ViiV Health care licence for abacavir

HAI Africa has welcomed the recent licence granted to the Medicines Patent Pool by ViiV Healthcare, a joint venture between Pfizer and GSK, for the pediatric abacavir covering 118 countries that account for 98.7 per cent of HIV positive children in need of treatment. Read more….

Information key to realization of right to health

Nairobi, November 8th, 2012: Health Action International (HAI) Africa, has said that the right to information is an important adjunct to the realization of the right to health. HAI Africa believes that under the new constitutional dispensation in Kenya where the right to health is guaranteed, increased attention must be devoted towards ensuring private and public health providers establish protocols that facilitate access to information. HAI Africa spoke at the launch of a Policy Brief on the right to health published by the media rights watchdog, Article 19. Read the full speech.

Kenya voices support for prioritization of R&D

Nairobi, November 8th, 2012: Health Action International (HAI ) Africa was among a broad range of stakeholders who met in Nairobi to draw support for a possible R&D Treaty and seek support for the CEWG recommendations ahead of the WHO-AFRO regional consultation in Angola on R&D financing.

The Nairobi consultation reviewed sustainable financing for global health Needs; the need for improved access to pharmaceutical products and medical equipment; and, explored how best to promote collaboration in innovation and R&D financing. Read full report from the meeting.

Kenya voices support for prioritization on R&D

A Briefing paper on the utilization of trips flexibilities in the EAC Region

A policy briefing paper produced by HAI Africa analyzing the use of flexibilities under the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) has made pertinent observations on the different approaches adopted by countries in the East African region. While all countries are geared towards maximizing use of these flexibilities within their respective national laws, there are areas where limited use of these flexibilities is undermining access to essential medicines. The paper makes a number of pertinent observations and recommendations on how countries can maximize the use of these flexibilities to promote access to essential medicines.

A new policy briefing paper from Health Action International (HAI) Africa

A new policy briefing paper from Health Action International (HAI) Africa makes a strong case for a binding R&D that would provide much needed resources to spur innovation and collaboration in the development of medicines that affect developing countries. This paper comes at a time of critical debate on the need for new innovative mechanisms for R&D and the growing need to prioritise the needs of developing countries under such a framework. Read More...